Angelina Jolie Shares Her Mastectomy Scars and the Connection to Other Women She Cherishes

Angelina Jolie at Rome Film Fest 2025.
Credit: Andrea Staccioli/Insidefoto/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty

Angelina Jolie Discusses Mastectomy Scars in Recent Interview

Angelina Jolie has publicly revealed her mastectomy scars for the first time in a recent interview with TIME France. The 50-year-old actress discussed her decision to showcase the results of her double mastectomy, a preventative measure she underwent in 2013 after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I share these scars with many women I love,” Jolie stated. “And I’m always moved when I see other women share theirs.”

The award-winning actress explained her motivation for sharing her journey is deeply rooted in support for breast health and awareness. “I wanted to join them, knowing that TIME France would be sharing information about breast health, prevention, and knowledge about breast cancer,” she added.

Jolie’s family experience with cancer influenced her decision to undergo surgery. Her mother, actress Marcheline Bertrand, passed away from cancer at the age of 56. In a widely read 2013 op-ed for The New York Times, titled “My Medical Choice,” she revealed that doctors had detected a “faulty gene,” BRCA1, which significantly raised her risk of developing breast cancer.

Reflecting on her surgical decision, Jolie expressed, “The decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. But it is one I am very happy that I made. My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under